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Dolphins and Titans will clash in the finals of the 4-Day Franchise series that will commence from March 25.
The Dolphins and the Titans are the two best teams remaining in the Franchise series, South Africa’s first-class tournament. Titans topped Group A with 98 points in their seven matches. They managed to win two games, draw four and lost one match in the Group stage.
Titans topped Group B with an even more impressive performance as they won four games, lost one and drew two games, accumulating 126 points in their seven matches. The league stage matches are played over four days. However, the final is played like a regular Test match, with five days of complete action.
Titans will be led by the South African opener Dean Elgar. Dolphins will be led by Marques Ackerman. Titans drew the last match against Lions to finish on top of Group A. Dolphins secured their fourth win in the previous match against Warriors, winning by seven wickets.
There are several top guns in action on both sides. Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock are the key players for Titans. The Dolphins do not have many world-class players in their squad. However, they have stuck together as a unit which has helped them book a place in the finals.
The Lions were named the champions last year after the tournament was cancelled midway owing to the covid-19 pandemic. Graeme Smith, acting director of Cricket South Africa, declared Lions as the first-class tournament champions as they were on top of the points table after eight matches.
Key Players
Aiden Markram has been one of the standout players for Titans this season. The South African opener is the highest run-getter of the tournament, amassing 945 runs at an average of 94.50. Markram showed his brilliance with the bat in the last match against the Lions as he scored a century in the first innings. He backed it up with another good performance in the second innings, scoring 64 runs in 117 balls.
Lizaad Williams has been the best bowler for Titans this season. He has picked up 27 wickets in his six matches so far at an average of 25.15. Williams was impressive in his last outing against Lions, where he picked up seven wickets in two innings. His performance with the ball in the final will be a crucial factor in deciding the fate of the match.
Keshav Maharaj is the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, picking up 34 wickets in his five matches at an average of 20.47. The South African spinner has taken four five-wicket hauls so far. Maharaj picked up eight wickets in the last match, including a six-wicket haul in the second innings. He ran through the middle order of the Warriors in the previous innings, which helped his side to register their fourth win. Moreover, he scored 66 runs with the bat in the first innings to substantially lead to his side.
Senuran Muthusamy opens the batting for the Dolphins and is also a handy bowler. He scored a half-century in each of the two innings for Dolphins in the last match against Warriors. Moreover, Muthusamy has been impressive with the ball as well. He has picked up 19 wickets in his six matches so far at an average of 16.63.
Prediction
The last match between the two teams ended in a draw as the game was called off after just two days owing to the covid-19 pandemic. Both teams will be backing their chances to lift the title after playing some brilliant cricket to enter the final. Dolphins would be high on confidence as they managed to pull off an impressive victory over the Warriors in the last match, their fourth win in seven games.
Titans were on course to win their match against Lions before the match was declared a draw after the four days’ conclusion. On paper, Titans have a stronger batting lineup as compared to the Dolphins. Dean Elgar’s likes, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock, are regulars in the South African team and can cause severe damage to the opposition if they get going.
As for the bowling attack, the Dolphins have a little edge because of Keshav Maharaj’s presence. The experienced spinner has been the best bowler of the tournament and proved to be match-winner against the Warriors. He will have to be on top of his game against the Titans, who boast of a strong batting lineup.
Titans are expected to win the finals against Dolphins and claim the Franchise series title. The Titans have a huge amount of experience in their squad, which can play an essential factor in a high-pressure final.
